FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Road trips have not been kind to the Saint Leo men’s basketball team over the last month, and it showed again on Saturday afternoon as the Lions fell to host Nova Southeastern 83-66 in Sunshine State Conference action from NSU’s University Center in South Florida.

The Sharks (15-8, 9-5 SSC) opened the game with a pair of treys that gave them an early 6-0 lead. However, the Lions went on a 9-0 run to regain the lead at the 16:23 mark in the first half.

Saint Leo (14-14, 7-8 SSC held onto a slim lead through the first five minutes of the game, but with 14:38 left in the first, an old-fashioned three-point play by NSU’s Dionte Perry, who dropped in a layup before being fouled by Kyle Rowland, gave the Sharks a lead they would never relinquish.

That play would spark the home-standing Sharks to open up a double-digit lead through the rest of the first half as NSU headed into the lockers leading 43-35.

The second half would not be any better for the Lions as Nova Southeastern continued to drain shots, extending their lead to as much as 25 points to help the Sharks hold on for the 83-66 win.

Although the Lions have won six-straight games when playing at home, SLU has not had the same luck when they travel away from the Bowman Center. The Lions are just 2-6 in conference play when in hostile territory, the two wins coming against Eckerd and Barry.

Saint Leo was led by Jordan Prais with 21 points, while Saladeem Dewberry came in off the bench and converted six of eight attempts from the floor to finish with 14 points.

As a team, the Lions shot just 38 percent (19-of-50) compared to Nova’s 45 percent (30-of-67) shooting night from the floor.

The Lions will try to rebound from this rough outing as they return home to face Eckerd College on Wednesday night. Things are scheduled to get underway at the Bowman Center with the game’s tip-off coming at 7:30 p.m.